Adolphus henry cook



Patented Dot. 25, |898.

A. H. 000K.

PORTABLE FENCE.

(Application filed Peb. 1, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

on. WASHINGTON. D4 c,

1n: aims vergas co. moroum NITEDA STATES PATENTl OFFICE.

ADOLPHUS HENRY COOK, OF MAFtKHAM, CANADA.

PORTABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,824, dated October 25, 1898.

Application filed February 1, 1892i. Serial No. 668,722. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADoLPHUs HENRY such a manner that the vertical position of` the panels of the fence will always be preserved; secondly, to provide supporting-posts between the panels, whereby such panels may be adjusted to a limited extent as to height above the ground; thirdly, to so construct the panels of the fence that they may be readily folded and take but little space when'being shipped, and, fourthly, to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the fence may be rendered taut from end to end; and it consists in the construction of a portable fence, as hereinafter more particularly described.

Figure l is a perspective view showing a short section of fence provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the folding center portion of the panel. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing the means whereby the panels are supported on and connected to the posts and connected together. Fig. tis an end elevation showing the posts adj usted on the side of a hill and supporting the panel in a vertical position.

In the drawings like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A are the panels ofthe fence, which are composed of the longitudinal wires ct, looped at the ends, the end barsct, made of iron or wood, which extend through the end loops of the longitudinal wires,and the upright double wires co2. The double wires a2 are twisted on each side of the intermediate longitudinal wires a and extend and are connected at the ends over the top and bottom wires inthe form of bracing-wires d3, the ends of which are twisted around the top and bottom wires,

as indicated. Intermediate of the length of the panel are formed on the wires d the connecting wire loops c4 and a5. These wire loops permit of the panel being bent in the center and the two end bars a brought together, so as to take but a small space'in shippino.

BDB are the cross-posts of the fence, which are each providedwith a series of holes at their upper end and are connected together at the lower end by togglejointed bars B',

pivotally connected in the center by the bolt B2.

C O' are brackets secured to the end bars a' of the panel, and c are bolts extending panels are also connected together by the rods D, the hooked ends of which pass around the major port-ion of the circumference of the bars a, and thus serve to securely bind the panels together.

In order to raise the panels on farm-lands,

for which my invention is particularly designed, it is simply necessary to remove the bolts c, bring the upper ends of the bars closer together, so that higher holes b are opposite each other, and replace the bolt c through its oppositely-placed holes andthe brackets C. The lower portion of the posts may then be or :naturally will spread out, so as to raise the center of the toggle-joint correspondingly to the distance the brackets are raised in height.` j

It will thus be seen what a convenient form of fence mine is, as for stock, such as cows and horses, the fence may be raised a considerable height, while sheep, if necessary,

may roam from one field to the other under IOO Another advantage I derive from the construction of the posts of my fence is that on sidehills, such as shown in Fig. 4, the one post may be adjusted so that one of the top holes in one portion is opposite one of the lower holes in the other portion B, and the bolts c pass through the brackets and holes, as hereinbefore described. The toggle-joint will th us naturally assume the position shown in Fig. 4, and panels necessarily will remain vertical. It will therefore be understood in this form of cross-post that it will not be necessary to cut off the post for uneven or undulating ground, but adjust it as above referred to. In this way should it be wished to move the fence from a hilly to a level portion of the farm it may be readily done, the post being adjusted so that the upper cross portions are of equal length.

In order to hold the ends of the fence rigid, I provide the following simple device: 2 is an anchor having an eye 3 formed at the upper end. The anchor 2 is preferably fanshaped, so as to present a large resisting-surface to prevent it from being drawn from the ground into which it is sunk. 4t are corresponding anchors situated to the rear of the anchor 2 and having eyes 5. 6 is a bracingwire having a spring 7 formed intermediate of the length thereof, one end of the wire 6 being connected to the upper end of the end barl a', while the opposite end is connected to the eye 3 of the anchor 2. 8 is a wire having a spring 9, preferably formed intermediate of its length, one end being connected to the lower end of the end bar a of the panel and the opposite end being connected to the eye 3 of the anchor 2. The wires 6 and 8 may be formed of one continuous piece, if desired, as shown in Fig. 1, instead of two separate pieces. 10 are bracing-wires extending from the'eye 3 of the anchor 2 to the eyes 5 of the anchors 4. By this form of anchoring I am enabled to hold the felice securely in position and prevent any sagging, as the anchors may be sunk deep in the ground, and their flat surfaces being at right angles to the line of the fence will hold them securely in position.

In the drawings I only show three sections of fence. The intermediate section is of peculiar form and is designed for the purpose of tightening the rest of the fence, which may consist of any number of panels either way. This peculiar form of tightening-panel I shall now describe.

The end bars or strips of the fence are connected, as hereinbefore described, by brackets C to the cross-posts B, and the togglejointed bars between the lower portion of such posts E are angle-bars forming the top and bottom rails of one-half of the tighteningpanel. The top and bottom angle-bars E are connected at the opposite end to the end bar a6 and are provided with a series of holes e. The end bars are also connected together intermediately by wires correspondingly formed to the wires of the other panels, thus serving to stiften this panel. E are angle-bars forming the top and bottom rails of the other half of the tightening-panel and connected at one end to the end bar ct and at the opposite end to the end bar a6. The angle-bars E have a series of holes e' at the top and bottom, as indicated. This portion is also braced intermediately by wire similar to the other panels.

F is a lever provided with pins f. It will be noticed that the two portions of the tightening-panel overlap each other, and by placing the pins f of the lever F into the holes of both portions at the top the top and bottom angle-bar rails may be drawn longitudinally, as indicated by arrow, when the lever F is moved in the direction indicated by arrow, thereby serving to shorten the length of the overlapping panel and thus tighten the fence. Staples G may be now inserted into opposite holes, and thus the overlapping tighteningpanel retained in the position into which it is drawn.

By providing such an overlapping panel as I describe there is no reason why my fence cannot always be kept taut and in proper shape.

Again, although I show end brackets connected to the end bars of the panels and to the cross-posts by bolts extending through the holes at the upper end and in the center of the toggle-joint at the lower end, it will be understood that I might dispense with such brackets if I make the end bars wide enough and pass the bolts directly through such end IOO bars and upper holes of the cross-bolts and center of the toggle-joint.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a portable fence, a panel comprising end bars or strips, longitudinal wires, upright double wires twisted on each side of the longitudinal wires and having angular bracing ends, the ends of which are twisted around the top and bottom wires of the panel as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a portable fence, a panel comprising the end bars or strips, longitudinal wires, and vertical wires, and loops formed intermediate of the length oli' the longitudinal wires, vertically above each other and designed to form a hinge in the center of the panel as and for the purpose speciiied.

3. The combination with the panels and end bars thereof, of the cross-posts provided with a series of holes in their upper ends, bolts extending through the oppositely-set cross-holes and connecting the end bars together, the toggle-jointed bar connecting the lower portion of the cross-posts and bolts extending through the center of the toggle-joint and connecting the lower ends of the end bars of the panel as and for the purpose specified.

4L. The combination with the panels and end bars thereof, of theI cross-posts provided with a series of holes in their upper ends, the upper brackets affixed to the end bars, and bolts extending through such brackets and oppositely-set holes in the upper portion of IIO bottom of the end bar of the panels and to the eye of the anchor as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with the posts and the Wire panels and end bars all suitably oonnected together andsupported in position, of the flat anchor 2 having an eye 3 and the anchor-Wires and 8 connected to the top and bottom of the end bar of the panels and to the eye of the anchor and the supplemental anchors 4: having eyes 5 and bracing-Wires 10 connecting such eyes to the eye of the main anchor 2 as and for the purpose specified.

'7. The combination With the Wire panels and posts and means for connecting the panels together, of the overlapping central panel provided with a series of holes in the top and bottom rails adapted to receive the pins carried by a lever for adjusting the relative position of said rails.

8. The combination With the Wire panels and posts and means for connecting the panels together, of the overlapping central pan el provided With a series of holes in the top and bottom rails and the staples designed to eX tend into the holes in the overlapping portion of the rails as and for the purpose specified.

ADOLPHUS HENRY COOK.

Witnesses B. BOYD, H. DENNIsoN. 

